Josef V. Toman-Tomanek
Publisher, author
Born Nov. 19, 1912, Kupiczow (Volhynia), Poland; came to U.S., 1952; son of Wenceslas and Julia (Zitny); married Anna (Sedivy); child: Joseph.
Education: Chopin's Music School, Lublin (Poland), 1939; Artillery School (Poland), 1944.
Career: singing teacher, Nowoszulki (Volhynia), 1943; merchant, Podborany (Western Bohemia), 1947-50; writer, exile poet, Refugee Camp, Valka / Nurnberg (Germany), 1950-52; insurance employee, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York City, 1955-73; books and music compositions publisher, Hlas - Voice, Book in Music Publishers, New York City, 1956 -.
Author: History of Volhynia (manuscript); Niepowrotny czas (poems); 34 volumes of poems, prose, autobiographical materials.
Member of, i.a.: president, Czechoslovak Legion in Exile, 1988; in New York City - vice president, National Alliance of Czech Catholics, member, Polish National Treasury, former choirs member, "Harmonia", and St. Casimir's Church Choir.
Honors: Gold Cross of Merit, 1989, Cross of Military Assistance in 1939, Polish Government in Exile, London (United Kingdom); Polish Home Army Cross, Polish Home Army Headquarter, London, 1987; September '39 Campaign Medal, Partisans Cross, L. Walesa, President of Poland, 1992; various medals for World War II, Czechoslovak Army.
Served with: September '39 Campaign; Czechoslovak Army Foreign Legion, Artillery, lieutenant, 1944-47; promoted to lieutenant colonel, 1991.
Affiliation: Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, Russian, English.
Hobbies: music, poetry, travel.
Office: P.O. Box 2090, New York, NY 10009.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996.